Punta Cana Airport

❎ Not Verified | Horrible airport. At least least half the gates are in an area open to the tarmac. Hot. Excessively noisy so that no announcements can be heard in the waiting areas. Passport check is not done at the gate, it’s done at the ramp to the aircraft. Passengers crowd at the gates. Buses eventually come to take the across the tarmac - people shoved into busses like livestock. No seats. Crowds again wait at the foot of the stairs - outdoors in heat, rain. There is absolutely no provision for special assistance once passengers are dropped in crowded seating at the gates. Insufficient information boards showing flight info - and not visible from many of the gates. Simply awful.

✅ Trip Verified | Arrival: Long queue for immigration, but at least the line kept moving. Had to join another queue for customs after collecting baggage. Departure: Not all self-service electronic check-in kiosks were working. The first one I used froze while halfway through, so I had to wait for another and start again. The security checkpoint took a disappointingly long time to get through because of a long winding queue. The departure area was quite small. The food court had decent choices, but all had queues at them and there was nowhere to sit as it was really busy (and this was off-peak time). The free airport wifi kept cutting out.

✅ Trip Verified | Had the most amazing holiday at the Majestic then experience departures at Punta Cana Airport. A complete nightmare. Our flight was delayed almost an hour as passengers were trying to get through massive line ups. They need a bigger airport and more staff. The airport has outgrown itself. Unfortunately, we won't return to Punta Cana. Resort - 10/10 Airport - 0/10

❎ Not Verified | The immigration personnel that check your documents, lack good manners, they need to trained as to how to communicate with the tourist. A hello with eye contact and a smile. Hand the documents by hand, do not just slide them on the counter. No one at the airport greets nor smiles. Only at the baggage I found a staff member who was polite and courteous. He is an example that should be imitated throughout the airport.

✅ Verified Review | Building itself is nice. Queuing like always long because just 1/3 of all counters occupied. Waiting area is basically a nice idea, directly open to the field. But you are sitting 50m next to the planes, so it is very loud. The worst thing were the toilets at gate 1. There are 3 cabins, on 2 cabins the doors were broken and at the 3rd the toilet seat was broken. Thats a no go!

Getting through check-in and security was very long so plan ahead. Staff talking on phones everywhere could of been work related but very noticeable. At the gate Delta flight to Minneapolis was delayed and not one of the staff members let us know what was going on with our flight to Atlanta. There was a stand by passenger that walked though the gate and got on the Minneapolis plane without even being checked, staff member was on the phone with back to gate. She was already on plane when they tried to find her. They did go down the ramp to find her etc. Then when our plane was finally ready to board 1 hour and 20 minutes late, it was a mad dash for plane. Staff did nothing to put folks in by boarding order. Love Punta Canta but this airport. Be aware! This happened on January 2 and yes we did miss our connecting flight in Atlanta.

The lines at immigration at Punta Cana Airport are easily the worst I've ever encountered - and I've traveled the world. Minimum 90 minutes to get through immigration. No communication. No air conditioning. No apologies. Will not be coming back to this country as a result. They need to get their act together.

Flew into Punta Cana with BA who have re-timed their flights since our last visit in March 2015. I suspect this may be to avoid the horrendous queues associated with the rush of mid afternoon arrivals, chiefly from the US and Canada. This time, the queues in immigration were bearable and reasonably quick. Last time, it took 2 hours to get through. Other than that, little has changed and undoubtedly the airport needs expanding given the number of flights it handles.

I have to say was so disappointed with my experience departing Punta Cana. Check in was a rip off was under baggage allowance but we were told we had to pay $130 to check in third bag? We brought three bags under weight so why could we not take three back? No explanation just pay or don't take bag! If it wasn't for the fact there was 300 people behind in the queue, I would have stood my ground! Then they took my ecigarette off me with again no explanation and when I got through departure there were loads of people using nearly the same ecigarette. I'm afraid we won't be going back to DR which is a shame but I was so upset and frustrated with airport I couldn't go through that again.

Punta Cana airport comes across as an intentional organized chaos that allows for the employment of many local residents to offer their (and I really mean this) heartfelt, sincere, hospitality in either helping with our bags, selling us trinkets, tours, transportation, or, of course, Mama-Juanna. One just has to put things in perspective, it won’t be identical to US airports, and keep in mind that at a time of automation, this comes at the expense of low-skilled, low wage employees. The $10 entry fee into the country is a little wacky, but it’s just an additional tax. You can get it online now and at least avoid one of the lines in the airport – just don’t lose it like we did and have to buy it twice. You are forced to start getting acclimated to the Dominican weather immediately upon landing and the jet door swinging open. Mostly no gangways here, stairs to the tarmac, and if parked too far from the front door, a short ride on a bus to the terminal with inconsistent air-con. My advice, expect it to be warm and expect long lines. You have now officially entered Dominican time, and with just a little patience, and sweat, you’ll get to where you want to be. With exception to the way the Dominican taxi and shuttle drivers’ drive, the pace in the Dominican is very laid back – I think its how they deal with the constant heat and humidity. The airport staff actually check luggage receipts with bags as we left the reclaim area. Is this ever done in the US? I’m stunned that I actually had my 3 receipts readily accessible – I usually leave them with my old boarding pass in the back of the seat in front of me on the plane.